2446 Senator
Evans: To ask the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural
Affairs—

(1) Can
the Minister confirm that agency fees and commissions are not included
in the list of items that can be deducted from wages under regulations
for 457 visas.

(2) Does
the department undertake any monitoring of whether 457 visa holders
are being forced to pay agency fees or commissions.

(3) What
penalties apply if organisations or individuals are found to have deducted
agency fees or commissions from the wages of 457 visa holders in breach
of the regulations.

(4) How
many individuals or organisations have been penalised for deducting
agency fees or commissions from the wages of 457 visa holders in each
of the past 3 financial years.

2447 Senator
Evans: To ask the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural
Affairs—With reference to the 457 visa program, can a table be provided
that displays the full breakdown of all occupations filled by principal
applicant 457 visa holders who entered Australia in each of the financial
years, 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06.

2448 Senator
Evans: To ask the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural
Affairs—

(1) What
was the total number of 457 visa holders in Australia as at 30 June
2006.

(2) How
many of these people were principal applicant 457 visa holders.

(3) Can
a list be provided of all occupations filled by principal applicant
457 visa holders who were in Australia as at 30 June 2006.

2449 Senator
Evans: To ask the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural
Affairs—With reference to the investigation into reported misuse of
457 visas by T&R Pastoral that was referred to in Senate question
time on 16 August 2006:

(1) On
what date did the department commence its investigation.

(2) On
what date was the Minister’s office first made aware that an investigation
was underway.

(3) Was
the investigation actually undertaken by the department or was it performed
by someone external to the department; if it was undertaken by someone
outside the department, who was that person and/or organisation.

(4) On
what date was the investigation completed.

(5) On
what date was the Minister’s office first informed that the investigation
had been completed.

(6) When
was the department first advised of the investigation’s findings.

(7) When
was the Minister’s office first advised of the investigation’s findings.

(8) What
were the findings of the investigation.

(9) What
penalties/sanctions, if any, have been imposed against T&R Pastoral.

(10) Can
a copy of the investigation report be provided; if not, why not.

2450 Senator Evans: To ask the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural
Affairs—

(1) Can
the Minister confirm that the list, ‘Department of Immigration and
Multicultural Affairs: Arrivals by Visa Category 457 by ASCO occupation,
financial year 2004-05’, referred to in Senate question time on 17 August
2006, includes separate categories for inadequately described, self-employed,
retired, pensioner (disability), pensioner (other), home duties, non-working
child, student, unemployed and not stated.

(2) Are
any of the people who appear in the above separate categories, also
counted as part of the other occupational categories in this list; if
so, why.

(5) Does
the ‘not stated’ category include any principal applicant 457 visa
holders.

2451 Senator
Evans: To ask the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural
Affairs—

(1) Can
a list be provided of all employers in Western Australia sponsoring
workers on 457 visas in Western Australia as at 30 June 2006.

(2) Can
a list be provided of the number of principal applicants on 457 visas
sponsored by each of the above employers in Western Australia as at
30 June 2006.

(3) Can
a list be provided of the number of other 457 Visa holders sponsored
by each of the above employers in Western Australia as at 30 June 2006.

(4) What
is the location of each of the above employers, including the federal
electorate they are located in.

2452 Senator
Evans: To ask the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural
Affairs—

(1) What
is the total number of workers on 457 visas employed by businesses located
in the federal electorate of Forrest as at 30 June 2006.

(2) What
is the total number of workers on 457 visas, who were the principal
applicant, employed by businesses located in the federal electorate
of Forrest as at 30 June 2006.

(3) For
all principal applicant 457 visa holders, employed by businesses located
in the federal electorate of Forrest as at 30 June 2006, what is the
number occupying each relevant ASCO classification.

(4) For
all principal applicant 457 visa holders, employed by businesses located
in the federal electorate of Forrest as at 30 June 2006, is the period
they have been in Australia under that visa: (a) less than 1 month;
(b) 1-2 months; (c) 2-6 months; (d) 6-12 months; (e) 12-18 months; (f) 18-24 months;
(g) 24-36 months; and (h) 36 months or more.

(5) Has
the department received any complaints of non-compliance by the employers
of workers on 457 visas in the federal electorate of Forrest in the
2005-06 financial year; if so, what was the nature of those complaints
and what action was taken to investigate those complaints.

2453 Senator
Evans: To ask the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural
Affairs—

(1) Did
the Minister sign off on new migration regulations to provide for minimum
salary levels and occupations for the business long stay visa on 15
June 2006.

(2) Is it the case that the words
‘calculated on a 38 hour week’ were included in subsections (2),
(3), (4) and (5) of these regulations.

(3) Is
it the case that the previous regulations, that were issued by the Minister
on 24 April 2006 and revoked by the regulations issued on 15 June 2006
did not include the words ‘calculated on a 38 hour week’.

(4) What
will be the effect of inserting the words ‘calculated on a 38 hour
week’ into the regulations, for example, does it mean that 457 visa
holders on the $41 850 minimum salary level need only work a 38 hour
week to earn that amount and if they work more than 38 hours must receive
additional salary.

(5) Does
the insertion of those words mean that 457 visa holders are effectively
paid a minimum hourly salary of $21.18.

(6) Does
the insertion of those words mean that 457 visa holders are paid an
additional $21.18 per hour for every hour worked over 38 hours.

(7) Is
it the Minister’s intention that 457 visa holders who work 45 hours
a week receive overtime equivalent to $148.26 in addition to the $804.84
that they are entitled to for working a 38 hour week; if so, what actions
have been taken to inform all employers and 457 visa holders of this
change.

2455 Senator
Evans: To ask the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural
Affairs—Can a copy be provided of the list that the Minister was referring
to in an answer to a question without notice from Senator Bernardi in
Senate question time on 17 August 2006.